ESOCS Devotional 20 February 2024 – Knowing God: Life’s Greatest Goal
MEMORY VERSE: “This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
TEXT: JEREMIAH 9:17-24
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.
20 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.
21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.
22 Speak, Thus saith the Lord, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
Three things that we might boast about: wisdom, strength, or riches. Wisdom is actually a word that speaks of great understanding, which is the quality of being discerning; sound of judgement or quickness of perceptive. It is used here as if it could rescue one from the impending calamities. Strength is a military reference. Riches, of course, is wealth. God says is simply saying, “Do not rely on your own abilities of wisdom, strength and riches. Do not put your trust in yourself and boast on it. Make your boast in me and what I can do.”
The people were told about the judgement to come and they pleaded their politics, military powers and their wealth and treasures. They thought this would make their city impregnable. However, God showed them just how ridiculous this is. Man’s wisdom may fail him when he needs it most. Man’s strength may not always be his glory. The battle is not always won by the strong. Remember Goliath? All human strength is nothing without God. Man may think that money answers all things. But money could become the greatest downfall ever. Wisdom, strength and riches are all things that can fail, if they do not come from God.
God always gives us an alternative. God says instead of boasting of wisdom, strength and riches, things that can fail, boast in the truths found in verse 24: The person God delights in is the one that understands and knows that He is God. Do you understand and know that He is the Lord?
Such a person gives insight, causes to consider, gives insight to and teaches. This person indicates cognizance or mental awareness of something by the means of personal experience. How do you know the Lord? What are some ways you have personally experienced Him?
- As a Christian, you should develop the attitude of Christ Jesus your Lord who did not ascribe any glory to Himself but gave the Father all the glory, adoration and majesty. Don’t forget that absolute humility is an important Christian virtue to imbibe and practise. It is one of the ways to be like Jesus.
- Lord, forgive me every time I have boasted in myself and not in you or thought myself better than what I am or better than anyone else.
Further Reading: 1 Samuel 16:14-end; Matthew 19:1-15; Galatians 6:11-end
ESOCS Devotional 20 February 2024
